Teach Yourself Screenwriting (Teach Yourself)

Avoid his Chapters on scene design because they lack McKee's insight.

Respect Robert McKee because:
his POV coincides with Stanislavski and Aristotle's Poetics (which I would highly recommend if you wanted to write a dark down ending film ie something close to a Greek Tragedy.


Read Frensham after Robert McKee's "Story" book.   May 2, 2003
 5 out of 7 found this review helpful

The best thing about Frensham is his emphasis on characterisation.
The main arguement of Robert McKee's book is plot-structure being far more important than characterisation. Thus if you want to know about plot-structure then buy McKee but if you want a great character biography analysis checklist buy Frensham.

Also frensham has lots to say about how to approach rewriting: he outlines his 6 different stages: again with good checklists.

Best of all he has a typical production company script reader's (story analyst) checklist, so that we know what how the enemy thinks.

However, on plot-structure he is too formulaic: he doesn't prove story principles the way McKee does. McKee's principles are based on Aristotle and Stanislavski.

I'd suggest you'd buy "An Actor Prepares" if you really want to 'Act at the desk' so that you feel what the characters feel.


Off-putting to any aspiring writer   January 27, 2003
 1 out of 2 found this review helpful

I am amazed at the positive feedback that this book has drawn, though everyone is entitled to an opinion.

But if the purpose of a screenwriting book is to encourage and inspire you to write, don't buy this. Littered with graphs, tables and over-complicated expression, "Teach Yourself Screenwriting" served me as one huge, overwhelming mess.

Of course, this is only my opinion, and there is a place for in-depth analysis - especially for more experienced screenwriters. But as a novice screenwriter, I just felt submerged and then lost in its over-analytical, over-technical "advice".

Syd Field's "Screenplay" is a far better alternative in my opinion. Some say it's too much of a "screenwriting by numbers" guide, but for a novice writer it is pitched at just the right level and is superb at explaining structure.

My advice, especially for novice screenwriters, is to buy Screenplay and steer well clear of this one.


Off-putting to any aspiring writer   January 27, 2003
 5 out of 12 found this review helpful

I am amazed at the positive feedback that this book has drawn, though everyone is entitled to an opinion.

But if the purpose of a screenwriting book is to encourage and inspire you to write, don't buy this. Littered with graphs, tables and over-complicated expression, "Teach Yourself Screenwriting" served me as one huge, overwhelming mess.

Of course, this is only my opinion, and there is a place for in-depth analysis - especially for more experienced screenwriters. But as a novice screenwriter, I just felt submerged and then lost in its over-analytical, over-technical "advice".

Syd Field's "Screenplay" is a far better alternative in my opinion. Some say it's too much of a "screenwriting by numbers" guide, but for a novice writer it is pitched at just the right level and is superb at explaining structure.

My advice, especially for novice screenwriters, is to buy Screenplay and steer well clear of this one.


Nearly a pro now!   November 28, 2002
 0 out of 1 found this review helpful

This is an invaluable resource if you are considering screen writing. I'm a complete beginner and I've had to rely heavily on these kinds of books. I also recommend the Guerillas Guide to Film Making for would-be screen writers/directors.

This book has all the technical details such as the layout and structure of your scripts as well as character development, story and plot development and some of the less known essentials such as sub plots and mirror characters. If you serious about screen writing, buy this book.

P.S. My books ravished through over use as well!